NHS conman jailed

A crooked financier was jailed for four years today after targeting a string of cash-strapped NHS hospitals in a £4.5million fraud.

Posing as the high-powered head of a successful £38 million empire, Peter Nicol spent years creating a life of luxury at patients' expense.

The 51-year-old fraudster went on five-star holidays around the world, including one break to South Africa's Sun City resort.

But he had little cash of his own, operating from a boxroom-sized office and even smaller lock-up and employing one person - an unsuspectingbarman recruited to do some of his legwork.

His Eurocapital company promised vital medical equipment at apparently unbeatable rates, convincing finance chiefs at 35 hospitals he was the answer to their budgetary prayers. Then he secretly extended repayments to pocket up to £54,000 at a time.

Southwark Crown Court heard that by the time he was caught, he had banked nearly £400,000. Nicol, of East Kilbride, was unanimously convicted of 13 sample counts of using a false instrument between 1996 and 1998.

Judge Andrew Goymer told him the system of leasing documents was "a recipe for disaster and an invitation for fraud". But that did not excuse his dishonesty.

"It is understandable the public feel outraged that money that should be spent caring for patients should be lost in this fashion," he said.